Last updated : January 6, 2025
Psychologists, such as Aaron Weiner, PhD, ABPP, a licensed clinical psychologist in Lake Forest, Illinois, have been drawing attention to the fact that youth substance abuse is still a huge problem in the United States. The term “youth” incorporates middle school children as well as teens. It’s a well-known fact that kids begin to use drugs far younger than in the past.
Our country is being devastated by the number of people becoming addicted and dying from drug overdoses. This proves that programs, such as the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) program, taught in middle schools across the nation aren’t having the intended effect.
The D.A.R.E. program, typically taught by local law enforcement officers, urges total abstinence. It was first put into place in 1983. However, much like Nancy Regan’s “Just Say No” program—established one year prior—it seems to have had little effect in deterring drug use. These programs focus on the negative effects of youth substance abuse but young people tend to believe they are invincible. Thereby, most of them quickly surmise it may be a risk for some, but “that won’t happen to me.”
This outlook is proving to be highly inaccurate because our youth are dying of drug overdoses at an alarming rate. Some of these deaths can be attributed to the fact that cartel-manufactured fentanyl is found in every drug smuggled into the country. Unsuspecting youth die every day by taking an illegal substance because they are unaware that it contains fentanyl. Extremely low doses of this drug can prove fatal, especially when mixed with other drugs.
Adults are just negative Nellies
Most of us can remember being of an age where the adults in our lives were “cramping our style.” Kids tend to believe they “know it all” long before having the skill sets to determine what is best for them.
Drug programs, like Just Say No, don’t ever mention the positive effects of drug use. Things such as coping with stress or enjoying the “feel good” aspect are never addressed. Subsequently, in the eyes of the youth, at least, the instructors lose credibility.
Being straightforward works
Being honest with our kids and telling them about the positive effects using drugs can cause builds credibility rather than destroying it. Then, encouraging them to use other ways to create these feelings because using drugs causes—insert the list of negatives as warranted here—is having a much bigger impact on young people.
Dr. Weiner stated, “The goal is to impress upon youth that far and away the healthiest choice is not to put these substances in your body, while at the same time acknowledging that some kids are still going to try them.” He continued, “If that’s the case, we want to help them avoid the worst consequences.”
Not everyone in the field approves of this teaching method. However, there is growing evidence that it’s protecting youth from accidental overdoses. It’s also making them aware of how quickly addictions are formed, the possibility of legal involvement if they are caught using illegal substances, and problems that arise at school when youth substance abuse is in play.
Psychologists across the nation have been instrumental in making an effort to create, test, and administer developmentally appropriate, evidence-based programs approaching prevention in a holistic, nonstigmatizing way.
Our kids are listening
Youth substance abuse is on the decline even though more youth are dying from drug overdose. As mentioned above, the fact that fentanyl is mixed into every street drug on the black market is playing a large part in the deaths. Our kids hadn’t been considering it when using illegal drugs. We’re getting the information into their databases though and it will pay off because our kids aren’t stupid as much as uninformed.
Many psychologists agree with Nina Christie, PhD, a postdoctoral research fellow in the Center on Alcohol, Substance Use, and Addictions at the University of New Mexico, who said, “Drugs cannot be this taboo thing that young people can’t ask about anymore. That’s just a recipe for young people dying and we can’t continue to allow that.”
Parents believe that too. It can be hard to talk to your child, whether middle school-aged or a teen, about the dangers of using drugs. But, our society is trodding a very dark path as far as drug addiction is concerned. Parents know, beyond a doubt, that they can’t shove this subject under the rug.
A huge step in the right direction
Talking openly and honestly about all facets of drug use, the good and bad, provides our children with the information they need to make an informed decision. If they’re aware that synthetic opioids, such as oxycontin, are highly addictive and that some adults form an addiction after taking one round of prescription pain medication, it will give them pause to reflect before taking that pill.
We must make them aware that the pill, if obtained from the internet or off the street, more than likely contains fentanyl. Moreover, that one dose—likened to a few grains of salt—is enough to kill someone. If informed, they will ponder their decision even harder before popping it into their mouths.
Lastly, we must continue to teach them that youth substance abuse is even more dangerous because psychoactive substances, which include nicotine, cannabis, and alcohol, as well as synthetic opioids and other addictive substances, can interfere with healthy brain development. It’s a known fact that youth substance abuse makes it more likely that they will develop a full-blown substance use disorder by the time they reach adulthood.
Kids who avoid regular substance use are less likely to become involved with the juvenile justice system. They are more likely to excel in school and, most importantly, they live to enjoy a full life. We can’t stop our quest to make the world a better place for them to live those drug-free lives.
